University of Maine at Augusta Top Questions

If I could go back in time I would smack the know- it -all attitude out of my young self. As a teenager about to enter adulthood I didn't realize how important education was. I would take the immature version of me on a, "Scrooge-like" flash forward of life. My journey would illuminate the depths of poverty, and the road to riches. I would end with a glimpse of our future daughter hoping to get my message through. In our uneducated minds we believe money just grows on trees, and bills just get paid. As you grow up you realize that education is not only important for financial reasons, but for personal satisfaction as well. Its hard to maintain intelligence without being challenged to learn something new. I would explain to myself that someday I would want to date a man that wears a suit and has intellectual conversations. That once high school was over I would truly be on my own. Changing my path as a teenager would have been great, but the good thing about life is, It's never too late to change your's.

You know all about life, right? You know who you are, how you will turn out in ten years, how your career is going to go, right? Wrong. You have to choose between two colleges, both of which you want so desperately, you worry about it for weeks. They are both equal in every way, except one is affordable, the one you choose. It is the right choice. Often you will worry you made the wrong decision, but that will pass. You love it here. You love the teachers and they love you. You take the classes you want to, and you learn what you want to. Nothing in all the years of your education has felt so perfectly fit for you. So stop worry, stop losing sleep, stop panicking over the decision. Nothing is permanent, but you will find that this school is the best choice. You won't even stick with your original major! So keep going, and keep learning. Keep learning about your society and enviroment, but most importantly keep learning about yourself. You will be surprised at what you find.

First and foremost, I would have to supply phenomenal evidence of identity to the high school me, then once I caught my (her) attention I would tell myself, "It's time to stop horsing around and go full-throttle after your dreams. Leave the boys alone, stop being a clown and concentrate on your studies, on your art. THAT is what's important and no one will simply hand you success, you have to work hard to earn it. Go straight to college from here, don't wait. Yes, it is hard work, a little bit scary and it takes discipline, but it's also the best experience you will have in life. College is surprisingly fun, the new things you will learn are actually going to excite you! Most importantly, it will be the fast track to your success. There's also a strong sense of community between students and teachers that you won't find anywhere else; your peers will become your allies and lifelong friends! College will make you a better, stronger artist and a person. Don't be afraid of the transition, embrace the adventure and you'll graduate to higher achievements."

As I walk up the stairs and into the room, I spot the person I am looking for. She looks frustrated as she tries to figure out how old her imaginary client is so she can determine what his insurance premiums would be. I sit down next to her and introduce myself, “Hi. I’m Katie.” Unsurprised by my appearance, she quickly says, “I know. I’m Kathrynne.” Then she returns to her piece of scrap paper and math scribbles. I sit there for a few moments in silence observing how many times she attempts the problem before calling for help. Once the teacher leaves, I speak up. “You like to do things yourself, don’t you?” I ask. “Yes,” she replies absentmindedly, still focused on her work. “You don’t really doubt yourself until someone else does, do you?” “No,” she says slowly. I can see that I have touched a vulnerable part of her. She turns to me, intent on listening now. I look her in the eyes and leave her with these words, “Let people doubt. Then prove them wrong.”

When I graduated high school, I was offered several great scholarships. I turned them down to help my mother and my six siblings (she was a single mom). Because of this, it took me ten years to graduate college - but I did it! Looking back, I would tell myself that no matter what happens in life, it is important to look at everything as an experience. Life only happens once - so even hard experiences are opportunities to grow. I would also tell myself to take even one class every semester, because I'd have graduated much sooner. Finally, I'd tell myself to stay positive and smile!

Fill out scholarships.

Cameron, The opportunity to be educated at a college is paramount to being self sufficient and a productive member of society. It is easy to get sidetracked and unfocused. Cameron you have to decide that nothing will knock you off of your path. You have to stay around other students that are taking there education seriously. Try to avoid students that rarely go to class but seem to know all the party places. Learn new things from the new people you will be meeting. Some of your closest and dearest friends will be met during your college years. Dont give in to stress or fatigue because there are numerous resources on campus to help you through rough patches, if you seek those resources out. If you have developed smart relationships with the other students in your classes this will help you stay on course because these are the students who will be struggling like you, but they will be determined to succeed and earn high grades. Keep yourself around individuals that want the same things out of life that you do. Go into college prepared to work hard and learn. Master this and college will be all it should be.

I would tell myself to start searching for and applying for scholarships at the start of senior year. I planned on going to community college right after graduation, so I assumed that scholarships weren't for me. I did receive financial aid, but one should never underestimate the value of scholarship awards. I would also encourage my past self to volunteer--somewhere, anywhere. Volunteer work adds immense value to life--and looks excellent on resumes and scholarship applications. Plus, you make some great connections--sometimes with people in your future career field.

Listen up! Going to college is a good thing. It is not too expensive, and you're awesome career will help you pay back any student loans you have to aquire. This will be the smartest thing you can do. Do not wait a year to go it will turn in to 8 years! Go back now, no delaying. You can do this. You are smarter than you think you are. You just need to try and you will do great. Start at your community college and transfer to a university, it will save you money.

If I could go back in time and give my high school senior self some advice I would tell her to wake up and focus on the big picture. I would tell her to look beyond the books and think about what her future will look like with a college education vs. just a high school education. I would tell her that obtaining a degree will open doors for her and create opportunities that she may not have had otherwise. More importantly I would tell her that someday she will have two sons who look up to her and that she needs to set an example for them so that her mantra “high school, college, marriage, babies” never sounds hypocritical in her ears. Unfortunately my high school self would not have listened to its future self in that my high school self already new everything. Therefore I would finish by telling her to hang in there and fight. I would tell her to succeed despite the obstacles. Most of all I would tell her to have faith, that hard work and determination will be enough in the end.